Quincy Jones, the pioneering music producer and composer whose career spanned more than seven decades and included iconic collaborations with artists like Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, has passed away at the age of 91. 

His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed his death on Monday, though no cause was specified.

A jazz musician, composer, and arranger with a unique ability to bridge genres, Jones was born in 1933 on Chicago’s South Side. 

He discovered his talent for the piano at a local recreation center, and his musical journey began in earnest after he formed a close friendship with a young Ray Charles.

Throughout his career, Jones became known as one of the most influential figures in 20th-century music, reshaping the sounds of jazz, pop, and later hip-hop. 

He helped produce some of Michael Jackson’s best-known albums, including Thriller, Bad, and Off the Wall, which remain among the best-selling records of all time. Jones also collaborated with legendary artists such as Count Basie and Frank Sinatra, famously arranging and conducting Sinatra’s 1966 album Sinatra at the Sands.

Jones’s contributions extended far beyond the recording studio. In 1967, he broke barriers as the first Black composer to be nominated for an Oscar in the Original Song category for the film Banning. He also won 28 Grammy Awards across his career, placing him among the most awarded artists in Grammy history.